Expansible wire bracelet, armlet, garter, and the like



Jan. 2, 1923. 1,440,64T

c. TERRY. EXPANSIBLE WIRE BRACELET. ARMLET. GARTER. AND THE LIKE.

FILED APr. 16. 1920- fz vmwrae U/AELES 722925 a a" J r "woo Pater-teal darn 2, those.

' a, v FE. "r s e i? r-:- i e 1 W, 1 all 'ai'zzail as a arrived CHARLES or annmrcn, ENGLAND.

EXPAHSIBLE 'WIRE BRACELET, ARMLET, GARTEB, AND"THE LIKE;

Application filed April 16, 1920. Serial No. 374,470.

To all whom it may cones-m:

Be it known that I, CHARLES TERRY, a subject ot' the llingdoiuot Great Britain, of Novelty lVorks, Redditch, in the county of lVorcester, England, manufacture" have invented certain new and useful ments in or Relating to Expansible Bracelets, Eirmlets, Garters, and the like (for which I have filed application in England August 2%. 191.3. Patent No. 19,466), of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises certain impro .'e ments in or relating to expanding wire bracelets, armlets, garters and the like, and it has for its purpose to furnish means whereby such articles may be manufactured. in a more expeditious and efficient manner than heretofore, and whereby considerable expense is saved during such manufacture.

In the manufacture of bracelets and'like articles made from coiled or spiralspring wire, it has hitherto been the practice in forming the desired circlet from a band or portion of such spring to connect the extremities of the band together such extremities in the exact or proper position by soldering, brazing or the like. The present invention, however, comprises means whereby the two extremities of the spiral band may be connected together and retained in the exact required position in a very simple and etficient manner without necessitating the use of solder or the like, and the joint when completed is so neat in appearance asto render same invisible or substantially so.

According to the present invention the extremities of a portion of spiral spring oi suitable length for the purpose required are connected together by interlacing or locking a desired or suitable number of the wire coils or convolutions at one extremity with a similar or corresponding number of wire coils or convolutions at the other extremity by means of a screwing, turning or twisting action of the one extremity in relation to the other, and a suitable member is assembled or inserted within the interior of the interlocked coils for effectively preventing the displacement of the said interlaced or locked coils of'the connection or joint, and for retaining the said coilsin alignment with each other and with the remainderot the article without necessitating any soldering or braz- The invention is particularly applicable and retain adapted to articles in which the coils of the spring are or flat or elongated formation.

in order that this invention may be clearly understood and more readily carried into practice, reference may be had to the appended explanatory sheet of drawings upon which Figure 1 illustrates a complete bracelet, armletor the like article termed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates two extremities of a coiled wire band or length before interlacing same. t

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating two extremities of a coiled wire band or lengthin the process of interlacing.

Figure 4: shows a suitable form of clip or securitymember for inserting within the interlaced coils for completing'the joint;

Figure 5 is a transverse section through the joint according to this invention.

Ina convenient embodiment of the present invention a portion or band of co led or spiral spring a is provided of any desired or suitable length according to the nature or size of the article to'be made, the coils or convolutions oi saidspiral band a being advantageously of elongated or flat formation int-heir normal or contract'edeondition to lie in alignment side by side "closely adjacent to each other. I i

In order to form a circlet or ring member from a spiral band the coils at one extremity otsame are interlaced with the coils at the other extremity by screwing same into each other, which action maybe accomplished "in the following manner.

The one extremity of the band is held in the one or left hand and the other extremity is held in the'other or right hand. The extreme coil a at the one or right hand extremity is theninterla'cedwith or hooked into engagement withthe extreme coil a at the opposite or left .hand extremity. The one extremity of the band a being firn-lly held, the other extremity is given atwisting or screwing turn in relation thereto, the

movement being similar to that 'eflected when tightening or inserting an or'dina'ry screw. Upon completion of-the first turn the extreme coil a at the one ex-tremityolf the spiral band will be disposed or 'inter= laced in a position between the 'two extreme coils a a at the other extremity and vice versa.

This screwing immanent may be continned until say three or any other suitable number of coils at both extremities have been interlaced and brought into alignment or in the same plane. The action during the interlacing operation is such that the coils of the one extremity alternately assume a position in a plane at right angles to the plane of the coils with which they are interlaced and a position in which they lie snugly ortightly between such coils in tie same plane.

If desired, in effecting the interlacing both extremities may be twisted or turned in relation to each other, providing that they are turned in opposite directions.

Prior to interlacing the coils or convolutions at the extremity of the wire av the band or length forming the article is twisted in an opposite direction to the twisting movement necessitated in the interlacing operation, the number of twists or turns given to said band corresponding with the number of twists necessitated in the interlacing operation. In this manner after the operation of interlacing the extremities a circlet is formed having all the coils in alignment and devoid of any twists, I v

The two extreme ends of the spiral wire a are'advantageously of hook formation, the free arm or part a ofthe hook being extended to a position substantially half way along the width of the coil and this free e2:- tremity a of the hook portion is advantar geously tapered ofl'to a fine edge or flattened by grinding or otherwise so as-t'o facilitate its engagement between the coils during the operation of interlacing in forming the connection.

In order to prevent the displacement of the coils a after having been interlocked, and to retain said coils in one plane, a suitable fiat metallic member Z) is inserted within the interior of the wire coils advantageously at a position near the one extremity before the interlacing is eiiected, which flat member 7) after the joint has been accomplished is moved along the interior of the coils a into a position within the interlaced portion of same. 1

This flat securing member I) is advantageously in the form of an elongated thin sheet of metal bent so as to form two flat rectan gular face portions, disposed one over the other in parallel relationship, a small space remaining between same. The size of the rectangular member 6 is conveniently such as to permit of its being readily inserted within the wire coils a of the article being made while having asubstantially close fit.

within same;

The exterior faces of the flat metallic securing member 6 may be advantageously serrated vertically or formed with parallel vertical grooves, cuts or ribs 6 and after the interlocking of the coils has been accbm tool upon both the upper and lower edges of the same between the coils a thereby causing the sides of the member Z to be ex; panded in opposite directions and firmly bed against or grip the coils of wire, which coils a will be thereby pressed into engagement with the serrations or cuts Z9 in the flat member Z). The f'faces of the Hat member may be other rise roughened so as to form ripping surfaces. p

In bendingcl metal to form the two flat sides or i of the securing member 7) the contiguous edges of same after being bent over may be disposed transversely across the middle of one of the sides or faces.

and when formed the foui corners b of the member may be chamfered oil so as to facilitate the movement of the said member I) along the interior of the coils a.

It is advantageous to leave open to a certain degree those coils or convolutions of wire which are to be interlaced as this facilitates the interlocking operation.

A strip or band of fabric 0 of'a-ny suitable nature may be inserted within the coiled article to prevent the expansion or stretching of same beyond a certain degree. The extremities of this strip of fabric 0 may be connected together in any suitable or usual manner such as by stitching, but prior to such connection the strip is passed through the flat metallic expansible member Z) adapted to be inserted within the coils a, the flexibility of the strip of fabric 0 permitting the free turning movement of the coils during the interlacing of same.

The invention is applicable to bracelets, rings, garters, ari'i'ilets, anklets or any other desired expansiblewire article and it on ables the spiral spring or the like to be gilded, plated, etc, in the length, before joining to form the article required thereby saving much expense and permitting of a greatly improved finish to the article being made.

I What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. An'expansible bracelet, comprising a continuous coiled spring wire of equal diam eter throughout its length, the extremities being interlaced by threading the end coils between the convolutions of the coacting end coils.

2, An. expansible bracelet, comprising a e ons? 'nsible bracelet, comprising a lies. spring Wire 0t equal diain utits length, the extremities l by threading the end coils een the convolutions of the enacting end cons, and expansible clig surrounded by the interlaced end coils and adapted to be ex panded to enter into frictional contact with said coils.

An expansible bracelet, coingrising a continuous coiled spring Wire of equal diameter thrcighont its length, the extremities being interlaced by threading the end coils between the con'volutions oi the coacting end coils, and an ei pansible clip surrounded by the interlaced end coils and adapted to be expanded to enter into frictional contact with said coils said clip having serrated continuous coiled spring wire of equal diaineter throughout its length, the extremities being interlaced by threading the end coils between the convolutions of the coacting end coils, and an ezipansible clip surrounded by the interlaced end coils and adapted to be expanded to enter into frictional contact with said coils, said clip having serrated faces to increase the engagement with said coils, said end coils having their free ends tapered so'as to facilitate the insertion thereof between the convolutions of the end coils. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES TERRY. 

